Sewing-machine.



F. H. RICHARDS.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED lAN124, 1901. RENEWED FEB. 14.19I6.

1,191,232. Patented July 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET jizz with:

F. H. RICHARDS.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-24.1901. RENEWED FEB. 14.1916.

1,191,232. I Patented July 18, 1916.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

SEWING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJuly 18, 1916.

Application filed January 24, 1901, Serial No. 44,547. Renewed February14', 1916. Serial No. 78,327.

tion, as well as the insertion, adjustment and removal of the fabric. Ishow an improved organization, whereby the necessity of stopping themachine when it is desired to stop the stitch-forming and fabric-feedingoperations, is avoided. In this instance, the needle upon being thrownoff preferably continues to reciprocate, but does not descend far enoughto cooperate with the looper; and its stroke when thrown off ispreferably shorter than when operative.

According to my present improvements, a needle slide is operated by alink motion, the position and effective relation of whose severalmembers may be varied at will, so that the power-shaft of the machinemay communicate through said link motion to the needle either a full,low working stroke or a short high idle stroke, as desired. Preferablythe presser foot is also thrown off by the same finger piece that throwsthe needle out of.

operation, thereby stopping both' the stitchforming and fabric-feedingoperation while the machine is running.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sewingmachine embodying one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevationof the sewing machine head and its appurtenances, a portion of the coverplate thereof being broken away, and the needle and presser being shownin" their operative or eifective positions. Fig. 3 is a view similar toFig. 2, but showing the bb of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a perspective of avertical presser bar, which also serves as a guide for a needle slide.

Similar characters designate like parts in the several figures of thedrawings.

The sewing machine may consist generally of a bed plate B, an uprightand arm A, carrymg a head H, a shuttle or looper S, a needle N, andactuating mechanism D. Preferably the needle is formed integral with alarge thin sheet-metal slide 10, guided at 1ts edges in ways 11 and 12formed in a vertical presser bar 13. The latter is provided with guidingribs 14, working in grooves '15 formed in the machine head, which ishollow or box-like and preferably provided with a lid 16 depending froma hinge 17 and closed by a thumb screw 16. Said lid retains in theirseats both the presser and the needle slide, whose outer faces are flushwith the edge of the rim of the box-like head. A foot 13 is secured to alug 13 upon said presser 13 by means of a screw 13.

Through the. arm A of the machine frame extends a horizontalneedle-actuating rockshaft D suitably connected to the lower drivingshaft of the machine: said rock shaft carrying within the machine head Ha crank 18, the latter being connected by a linkage or link-system ortrain with the needle slide 10. Said linkage consists of an upper link19 and a lower link 20, the upper link being articulated at its upperend to the crank 18, and the lower end of the lower link having a stud21 fitting in a socket in the needle slide, and said links being joinedat 19' during the full operation of the machine, said connected ortoggle-links 19 and 20 act somewhat in the manner of a single link, totransmit the movement of the crank 1 8to the needle slide, therebyreciprocating the, latter in its ways. The presser is recssed or groovedat 22 to afford a clearance for the lower portion of the link 20..

The device for throwing the needle out of operation which may be calleda throw off device includes a horizontal spindle 24 mounted in a boss 23on the machine head and havin upon its inner end a crank 25, the latterleeing connected by a transverse link 26 to the needle-driving train 19,20 so as to control the latter. The link 26 is preferably articulated tothe pivot 19 in said train. Whenjhe crank 25 is swung, the train ortoggle is caused to buckle, thereby altering the relation of the drivingcrank 18 to the needle slide 10, as at Fig. 3. Said throw-oil crank 25is also connnected by a. downwardly extending link 27 to a .lug 25 onthe presser bar, the upper end of this link having a slot 29 engaging ashoulder-screw or pin 30 upon said crank, thereby making a looseconnection between the crank and presser, so that when the latter islifted by the fabric it may not affect the crank and cause it tointerfere with or vary the move ments of the needle-drivers. From thelug 28 also depends a rod 31, extending through horizontal walls orflanges 32 and 33 of the machine head; and upon the lower end of the rodmay be threaded an adjustment sleeve 34, against which may bear thelower end of a compression spring 35, the latter coiling about said rodand hearing at its upper end against the flange 32, and pressing thefoot 13 upon the cloth plate or the fabric thereon.

The crank spindle 24: is intended for manual adjustment, and for thispurpose may be provided with a lever or knurled head 36; and the rangeof movement of the crank may be determined by stops 37 and 38 fixed uponthe machine head.

lVhen the mechanism is set in the position shown at Fig. 2, the links 19and 20 are nearly in line during the entire needle movement, therebyimparting a full stroke to the needle, carrying it down sufficiently toenable it to cooperate with the shuttle, as shown in full lines, theposition of the parts at the top of the needle stroke being shownindotted lines. The upper end of the slot 29 in the presser bar link 27preferably just contacts with the pin 30, the slight upward movement ofthe presser foot due to the rising of the feed-dog not producing anyeffect upon the needle-controlling devices.

In order to stop the stitching and feeding operations while the machineis running, the finger piece 36 is turned so as to swing the crank 25upwardly and forwardly until it contacts with the stop 38. The crank isheld yieldingly in this position by the spring 35, which is compressedat the said adjustment of the crank,- acting through the presser link27, which passes over the dead center of the axis 24 as the crank swingsforward. During said movement of the crank, the link 26 is thrustforwardly, buckling the toggle 19, 20 so that movement is no longercommunicated in a direct line from the crank 18 to the needle, butinstead the upper link 19 is brought nearly at right angles to the lowerlink 20, so that the vibrations of the crank arm effect through theformer idle vibrations of the latter and slight vertical movements ofthe needle slide 10, as indicated by full and dotted lines at Fig. 3.One effect of the described throwo'ff movement, arising from thebuckling of the toggle 19, 20, is to draw up the needle slide 10, sothat it works above its normal range of action; and so long as thisresult is effected, it is not essential in all cases that the stroke ofthe needle when thrown off be shorter than when it is in full operation.It will be seen that by this means the stitchforming and work-feedingoperations may lie stopped and subsequently resumed while the machine isrunning.

It will be seen that the withdrawal of the needle from the work with thepresser-foot makes it possible to stop the stitching and feedingoperations of the machine while the driving mechanism continues inoperation without any danger of tangling the thread, and the shorteningof the needle stroke permits the construction of the parts with aminimum projection of the needle beyond its guides, thereby reducing thelateral variation in the position of the needle which would be caused byany given amount of play in the fitting of the parts.

As a convenient means for operating the needle-actuating rockersshaft D,and for properly operating the reciprocating shuttle in proper timingwith the needle, I have illustrated a driving mechanism, hereinbeforedesignated in a general way by D, and. which, in the form herein shown,comprises a driving-shaft 39 mounted in bearings 40 and 41 formed on orsecured to the frame work of the machine, which shaft 39 carries aneccentric 42 connecting through a rod 43 with an arm 44 ofsaidneedle-act'uating shaft D. Said primary drivingshaft 39 is alsoshown provided with a cam 45 that connects with the short end 46 of ashuttle actuating-lever 47, said lever being shown pivoted to the framework of the machine at 48. It will, however, be understood that othersuitable mechanism may be employed in connection with my presentimprovements in the machine herein illustrated.

It will be observed that the vibratory link-controlling arm 26 ispivoted upon the throw-off arm 25, whereby it may be shifted bodily, asfrom the position at Fig. 2 to that at Fig. 3, so as to vary the needlestroke, or throw the needle into or out of operation; that the actuator18 is connected by a link 19 to the train of devices 26, 20, preferablyto the latter; that the link motion which controls the needle comprisesthe members 18, 19, 20, 25 and 26; that the arm 26 extends transverselyof the link 20, so that said arm may vibrate while the needle isoperated by said link, and also so that said arm may by a longitudinalmovement thrust said link out of effective position, as at Fig. 3; thatthe members 19 and 20 may be regarded as a toggle, whose effectivestroke upon the needle slide is controlled by the arm 26; and that thespring 35 holds the I arm or crank 25 against the stop 38 when thepresser is lifted, as at Fig. 3, thereby yieldingly detaining the links19, 20 in their altered relation.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of my invention; andportions of my improvements may be used without others.

'Certain features herein illustrated. are set forth in my simultaneouslyfiled applications Nos. 44,546 and 44,549, and in my other pendingapplications Nos. 715,282, 33,679, 33,680, and 86,673.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A stitch formingmechanism comprising the combination with a presser, a needle slide anda rock arm, of a series of pivoted links connecting the said rock armand needle slide operatively reciprocating the needle slide when in acomparatively straight line, and'a throw off device connected to saidseries of links and to the presser for bending the line of the links andraising the presser.

2. In a sewing machine mechanism, the combination with a reciprocatoryneedle and a presser, of a rock-arm, a needle slide, a pair of linkspivoted together and to said arm and slide respectively and efi'ectivewhen said arm is at the limit of its stroke and the links aresubstantially in alinement for ad-- vancing the slide to the limit ofits stroke, means for rendering the presser inefi'ectual, and meanscontrolled thereby for deflecting the alinement of the links so thatwhen the arm is at the said limit of its stroke the needle slide will bein a position short of its limit of stroke.

3. In a sewing machine mechanism, the combination with a reciprocatoryneedle and a presser, of a rock arm, a needle slide carrying the needle,a pair of links connecting said slide and arm and of suflicient lengthwhen occupying a position substantially'in alinement to advance theslide to its lowest position when the arm is at its lowest position,means connected with the presser for shifting the sameto an inoperativeposition, and means controlled by the shifting means for adjusting thelinks out of alinement for shortening the throw of the arm and con-'trolling the limit of the down stroke. 7

4. The combination with a needle and means for actuating the same andcomprising a movable member and a system of links connecting the two, ofa presser, means for shifting the presser to an inoperative position andconnected to said system of links for. rendering the needle inoperative.

5. The combination with a driver, of areciprocatory needle, a linkpivoted to the driver, and a link pivotally connected to the needle,said links being pivoted together, a shifting device connected to saidlinks adjacent to their interpivotal point, a presser,

and means for moving the presser and opera.- tively connected to saidshifting device.

6. A stitch forming mechanism comprising the combination with a presser,a needle and a driver, of links connecting the driver and needle, athrow off device including a crank portion, a link pivoted to said crankand to the presser, the latter link having a slot-an'd-pin connectionwith one of its coacting elements.

8. The combination with a needle slide of a rock arm, a pair of linkspivoted to said arm andslide and pivoted together and when in asubstantially straight line capable of advancing said slide to itslowest position upon the arm arriving at its lowest position, a presserfoot, a rock arm for raising the said presser foot and a link connectingsaid rock arm and said pair of links for deflecting these from astraight line upon the raising of the presser foot.

9. A stitch-forming mechanism comprising the combination, with a slide,of a presser-foot carried thereby; a'needle moving upon the slide; meansfor actuating said needle; a connection between the actuating means andneedle; and a shifting device joined by links to said connection and tothe presser.

10. In a sewing machine having a presser, a stitch-forming mechanismincluding a needle slide of a link motion consisting of five elements,namely: a link, as 20, attached to the needle slide, for driving thelatter endwise; a controlling arm or link, as 26, attached to said linkwhereby when the presser is raised to an inoperative position the needleis rendered inoperative on the work; an adjustable arm, as 25, to whichsaid controlling arm is pivoted; an actuating links are placed out ofalinement, a presser,

means for controlling the presser, and means connected therewith forshifting the links into and out of alinement so as to alter the limitsof the path of the stroke of the needle.

12. A stitch-forming mechanism of a sewing machine, including a'needleand presser-mechanism which comprises a stitch-' formingmechanism including the combina-- tion with a needle device of a linkconnected thereto; a vibratory controlling arm to which the other end ofsaid link is connected; means for shifting said controlling arm bodily;an actuator connected by a link to one of said: link and controlling armelements; and a presser connected to said shlfting means whereby whenthe presser 1s raised to aninoperative position the needle is renderedinoperative on the work.

13. A stitch-forming mechanism of a sewing machine, including aneedleand presser-mechanism which comprises a stitchforming mechanismincluding the combination of a needle slide; a link attached there.- to;a controlling arm connected to said link; a throw-0ff arm upon which.said controlling arm is pivoted; an actuator connected to one of saidcontrolling-arm and link elements; a presser; and a link connecting saidpresser to said throw-ofi' arm whereby when the presser is raised to aninoperative position the needle is rendered inoperative on the work.

14. A stitch-forming mechanism of a sewing machine, including aneedle-andpresser-mechanism Y which comprises the combination'with aneedle device of a link, as 20, attached to said needle device; an arm,as 26, attached'to-said link and eX-. tending transversely thereof;means'for supporting said arm and moving it longitudinally; an actuator,as 18, connected to one of said arm and link elements; a presser; and aconnection between said presser and said arm-supporting and moving meanswhereby when the presser is raised to an inoperative position the needleis rendered inoperative on the work.

15. A stitch-forming mechanism of a sewing machine, including aneedleandpresser-mechanism which comprises the combination with a needleslide of a link, as 20, attached to the needle slide; a con trolling armor link, as 26;-an adjustable arm, as 25, to which said controlling armis pivoted; an actuating arm or crank, as 18; a link, as 19; for drivingsaid controlling arm, said link 20, and said needle slide; said link 19being connected to said crank 18; and a presser connected by a link toone of said elements 25 and 26 wherebya driving arm or crank, isjournaled in the framework, and another member whereof, consisting of anadjustable arm or crank, is also pivoted upon the framework and providedwith a finger-piece; said link motion being so organized that by amovement of said finger-piece the stroke transmitted through said linkmotion to said needle slide may be altered; stops for said adjustablearm or crank; a presser; a spring for said presser; and means connectingsaid presser to said adjustable arm or crank; said spring holding thelatter against one of said stops when the presser is lifted.

17'. In a sewing machine mechanism, the

\combination with a presser foot slide having a slideway, aneedle slidemounted in saidslideway, a system of linkage for reciprocating theneedle slide, means for raising the presser foot slide and adjusting thethrow of the linkage, and a connection between the presser'foot slideand said means whereby the motion of the presser foot due to the riseand fall of the feed dog will be ineffective upon the linkage. I

18. A stitch-forming mechanism of a sewing machine, including aneedle-andpresser-mechanism which comprises the combination with aneedle device and means for actuating-the same, of a Variable connectorbetween said needle device and said actuating means; an arm or crank, as25, connected to said variable connector; a stop, as 38, for said arm25; a presser connected tovsaid arm 25; and a spring, as 35, for saidpresser; said. spring operating, when the presser is thrown up, to holdsaid arm against said stop.

19. A stitch-forming mechanism of a sewing machine, including aneedleandpresser-mechanism which comprises the combination with a needledevice and means for actuating the same, of a variable connector betweensaid needle device and said actuating means; an arm or crank controllingvsaid variable connector; stops, as 37 and 38, for said arm or crank; alink, as 27, connected to said arm or crank; a presser connected to saidlink; and a spring for said presser; the movement of said arm raisingsaid presser and compressing said spring, and the link swinging over thedead center at its point of connection to said arm, so that said springdetains said arm in thethrow-off position and againstsaid stop 38.

20. In a sewing machine mechanism, the combination with a presser footslide having a guideway, a needle slide mounted in said guideway, a rockarm, a pair of links pivoted together and pivoted to said rock arm andneedle slide and effective when in a substantially straight position andthe rock arm in its lowest position, a rock arm,

a link connecting said rock arm and the ent motion 6f the resser footincident t said pair of links for llilolding them eitier 1iln the riseand fall of the feed dog. a substantial y straig t ine 01' out 0 t esame for regulating the throw of said FRANCIS RICHARDS needle slide, alinkage connecting said slide Witnesses:

and said latter rock arm and having free- FRED J. DOLE,

dom of movement for-permitting independ- C. E. Voss.

